Northern Region, Xiangshui City.
Due to the Sky-Mending Secret Realm, several major sects had acted to construct large teleportation arrays, allowing many people to be directly transported here. Just from collecting spirit stone fees for teleportation, these sects had already recouped their costs in only two days.
Today, a young man emerged from one of the teleportation arrays, accompanied by a soft-featured man.
“Young Master Chu Feng, this humble servant suggests we head to the area around the Sky-Mending Secret Realm and secure a good spot.”
Chu Feng glanced at Eunuch Cao and said, “No rush. The Sky-Mending Secret Realm isn’t going anywhere. Let’s gather some information first.”
Ji Yuhuang didn’t feel at ease letting Chu Feng go alone. However, since she was of eighth-rank cultivation, she couldn’t get too close, so she sent Eunuch Cao to stay by Chu Feng’s side and protect him closely.
As for why she chose Eunuch Cao….first, because his cultivation was high, and second, because Ji Yuhuang wanted him to keep an eye on Chu Feng so that her little husband wouldn’t get seduced by some vixen from who-knows-where.
Chu Feng never expected that he’d have a personal bodyguard one day. He could understand not getting a big-sister-type bodyguard… but sending a eunuch?
“This humble servant will do as Young Master Chu Feng says,”
Eunuch Cao replied.
The reason Chu Feng wasn’t in a hurry to head to the Sky-Mending Secret Realm was because his strength wasn’t enough. It had already been open for several days, so all the good spots were likely long taken. In that case, it would be better to gather more information first. Who knows, he might come across some explosive information.
There were three main places for gathering information: brothels, gambling dens, and taverns.
The first two were somewhat chaotic and mixed with all sorts of people, and the information wasn’t necessarily reliable.
In the end, Chu Feng set his sights on the tavern. After all, people tended to ramble when drunk. And in that drunken rambling, he might stumble upon something useful.
Just then, a young man was glancing around shiftily, seemingly searching for a target. As soon as he spotted Chu Feng, he immediately walked over.
Eunuch Cao narrowed his eyes instantly, silently channeling his true energy.
Chu Feng, of course, also noticed the young man approaching and instinctively grew cautious.
“Haha, this little brother must be here for the Sky-Mending Secret Realm as well, right?”
The young man greeted him with a cupped fist and a smile.
Chu Feng curled his lips inwardly. What kind of nonsense is that? Who wouldn’t be here for the secret realm? No one comes out of the teleportation array for sightseeing.
“And you are…?”
Chu Feng looked the young man up and down. The young man’s eyes carried a hint of flattery, and his tone was filled with deference.
Upon hearing Chu Feng’s question, the young man said, “My name is Hu Wan, a rogue cultivator. I’m here looking to form a team.”
“Form a team?” Chu Feng paused for a moment, then asked, “Is forming a team required to enter the Sky-Mending Secret Realm?”
“Of course not.” The young man shook his head and explained, “Little brother, it’s just a kind of unspoken understanding among rogue cultivators. Disciples of major sects always stick together. If us rogue cultivators act alone, we might not even get a taste of the soup.”
“I saw that it’s just you and the person behind you. If the three of us joined forces, we might at least grab a piece of the pie.”
Although this young man named Hu Wan spoke with reason and logic, Chu Feng still chose to reject him.
“Sorry, I’m not planning to team up with anyone for now.”
Come on, he didn’t even know the guy. What, just a few words and he was supposed to team up? What if the guy turned around and sold him out? He’d even be the one handing him the money for it.
“Ah well…”
Hu Wan looked at Chu Feng’s departing figure and sighed. Another day gone without finding a teammate.
“Young Master Chu Feng, that man just now gave this humble servant a strange feeling.”
Eunuch Cao said once they were far enough away.
“A strange feeling? Tell me more.”
A flicker of surprise passed through Chu Feng’s eyes. Could that guy really be hiding something?
He had thought earlier. Unsolicited kindness usually meant trouble.
“That man just now, although he appeared to be at the late stage of second-rank cultivation, his true energy fluctuations were a bit off. It’s not what a second-rank should have.”
Eunuch Cao had lived a long life, but this was the first time he’d ever encountered such a strange case.
“Thank you for the warning, Eunuch Cao. Seems like it’d be best to steer clear of that guy in the future.”
Chu Feng said.
Good thing he had Eunuch Cao with him. On his own, he probably wouldn’t have noticed anything. The world of cultivation really was a muddy mess.
“You’re too polite, Young Master Chu Feng. As for this humble servant, there’s no need to be so formal. Just call me Little Cao, like Her Majesty does.”
Eunuch Cao looked at Chu Feng. At first, he had thought Chu Feng was just some handsome kid who got lucky and caught the Empress’s eye, but who would’ve guessed….his master was none other than the Moonlight Sword Fairy!
“Sounds good. I’ll call you Little Cao from now on. After all, calling you ‘Eunuch Cao’ while we’re out and about is a bit too attention-grabbing.”
Just think about it…“Eunuch Cao” immediately sounds like the title of a palace eunuch. All it would take is a little digging, and anyone would find out that the grand eunuch serving the Empress of Great Yan is called Eunuch Cao.
Chu Feng was only a measly second-rank cultivator. If he got targeted by some bandits and kidnapped for ransom, he’d be in real trouble.
Changing the way he addressed him was a good idea. It would save them a lot of unnecessary trouble.
First Class Drunken Pavilion, the largest tavern in Xiangshui City, had been doing roaring business these past few days. Every day, it was packed to the brim.
The innkeeper couldn’t stop grinning. He was raking in the cash!
Chu Feng stood at the entrance, squinting up at the characters on the signboard.
A moment later—
Tsk! No good. I still can’t read it. Why is written language in the cultivation world so damn hard to learn?
He could accept not knowing every English word, but at least he could recognize each letter. The writing in the cultivation world, though, was neither neat like Chinese characters nor familiar like English. It looked more like some kind of chicken scratch.
“Ahem! Little Cao, is this the place?”
After asking around, Chu Feng had learned that the biggest tavern in the city was First Class Drunken Pavilion. Following a local’s directions, he ended up here.
“First Class Drunken Pavilion, Young Master Chu Feng. This is the place,” Eunuch Cao said while looking up at the sign.
For the first time, Chu Feng understood how terrifying illiteracy could be. Never mind reading cultivation techniques….just finding a place was already a huge problem.
Sign me up! By the way, do they have any crash courses for learning to read in the cultivation world? I, Chu Feng, need one.
As soon as Chu Feng stepped inside, a young attendant ran up to him.
“Welcome, sir! Would you like something to eat? Or maybe a drink?”
The attendant chuckled.
“Just bring me a pot of wine. Anything’s fine.”
“Right away, sir. Please follow me.”
Chu Feng followed the attendant and found an empty seat.
There were quite a few people around, but they were mostly men, drinking heartily.
“En…cough, Little Cao, what do you think of the people here? Any good?”
Chu Feng glanced around but didn’t sense anyone with a powerful aura.
Usually, experts preferred drinking alone, with no one around them.
“Young Master Chu Feng, they’re pretty average. The strongest one’s only at the fourth rank. Most are just first or second rank.”
“Huh? That weak?”
Chu Feng had expected to find fifth or even sixth-rank powerhouses, but it turned out most of them were just small fry.
“Young Master Chu Feng, that’s how it is with rogue cultivators. Without enough resources, most of them have pretty low cultivation levels.”
“Where’s the one with the highest cultivation?”
“Young Master Chu Feng, he’s right behind us.”
Upon hearing that, Chu Feng turned his head. Behind him sat three burly men, their bodies covered in scars.
Bang!
Just then, the door swung open, and a faint elegant fragrance drifted in. It was completely out of place in the booze-filled tavern.
“Women? Where did all these women come from?”
“Haha! What, here to drink with us, ladies?”
“Hey! Keep your voice down! Look at their clothes. They’re from the Holy Land of Yaochi!”
As soon as those words were spoken, the whole place fell silent.
The Holy Land of Yaochi!
There were five women in total, each one graceful and beautiful.
One of them stepped forward and said coldly, “Who are the Three Monkeys? You stole from a disciple of the Holy Land of Yaochi. Now it’s time to pay the price!”
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